Contempt case against Punjab CM's Media Advisor fixed for Feb 14

Chandigarh, Jan 31 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court today adjourned to February 14 the hearing of the contempt petition against Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, the media advisor to the Punjab Chief Minister.

The proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act have been initiated against Chahal by the Court itself for interfering in the administration of justice by instructing against handing over the record of the Sports Department pertaining to the selection of some favourites for appointment as the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) directly under the quota reserved for the sportspersons.

Chahal's son was one of the beneficiaries of this special selection which was quashed by the High Court leading to the removal of those appointed.

During the resumed hearing by the full bench comprising Justices Surinder Singh Nijjar, Rajive Bhalla and Surya Kant, the request for adjournment was made by the counsel for the respondent.

It was submitted that since the process for the general elections to the Punjab Assembly is in progress and as Chahal was advisor to the Chief Minister, the next hearing be fixed for a date after the polling on February 13.

Earlier, Anupam Gupta who is assisting the Court in the matter, narrated how Chahal had ensured that the file of the Sports Department pertaining to the selection of DSPs under sports quota, was not delivered to the High Court by asking the officer concerned Additional Secretary D S Longiya for the same.

Reading out from court proceedings and observations about the case, Anupam Gupta submitted the High Court was dismayed to discover that the ''entire record' submitted by the Punjab government in response to the High Court orders, did not include the Sports Department record of the matter then pending before the Court.

The full bench while adjourning the hearing to February 14 exempted the personal presence of Longiya in the court. Chahal as on previous hearings was present in the court on orders of the bench.

UNI